Rubin is going to ‘flit like butterflies, not elephants’
It is a demand of the new coaching staff of the Kazan club headed by Javier Gracia
The temperature was 30°C when Rubin Kazan got back from its vacation and started to train with its new coach from Spain. Journalists, including your sports reviewer, were invited to the first training. Realnoe Vremya tells about absent fighters of the squad who will come to Kazan in the short run and our opinion of the training process.
Return of the 'prodigal son'
The Spanish specialist who got used to hot weather did not change difficult trainings. 'The weather is very good like in Malaga,' Gracia will say after a 1,5-hour training. The players had to sweat both literally and figuratively. It looked like Formula 1 races. It was a kind of Grand Prix stage when cars (our football players) fell out of the competition one by one. So, on 21 June, Karadeniz and Azmun finished their training beforehand. Yes, one of the leaders of Rostov suddenly decided to show his respect to the active contract and arrived in Kazan one day before the first training. It seemed the 'Iranian Messi' did not like the practice load of the 'Spanish Magat'. Dissatisfied, he sat on the bench in the middle of the training, drank water and just left the training.
In general, it was the first training, but a stress on physical exercises was obvious. New fitness coach of Rubin Juan Solea seems to be keen on cross fit, which is not very popular nere like in Europe. In brief, a new level was seen in everything. For example, we were allowed to stay on the touchline and even managed to watch the whole training, not just the 'ritual' 15 minutes. We not only saw but also heard everything. What? Read below.
The moment when even joker Ryzhikov was serious
By the way, Gracia brought to Kazan his assistant Ivan Andres and goalkeepers' coach Iñigo Arteaga except fitness coach Juan Solea. Apart from them, we noticed the señor's coaching staff included old acquaintances too – Dmitry Kuznetsov and Valery Kleymenov. Everybody is busy: both players and coaches. After the training many players looked a bit shocked. It was clear they got out of the habit of serious work during the cooperation with yes-man Chaly. If at the beginning the players wanted to joke, then this desire disappeared. So, when the training started, my colleague from the sports staff of Realnoe Vremya teased about Sergey Ryzhikov (who was running at that time) saying: 'Talk less, work more'. The goalkeeper immediately became and object of derision of one of the leaders of Rubin and was charged additional laps. The stock of jokes of the longstanding 'wall' of the Kazan club was possibly full but he lacked strength to continue his training. The smile died on his lips, and the work began. 'Flit like butterflies, not elephants!' quite a figurative interpretation of the coach's instruction zinged down the pitch.
After a series of exhausting physical exercises, it seemed the players were going to be left in peace. Far from it. Javier Gracia constantly wanted his players to be quick on the uptake and work with the ball. And everything has its end. The 1,5-hour training finished, and the Spanish 'tormentor' went to talk to us with a feeling of his duty fulfilled. The journalists also had to suffer from the weather.
What is your opinion about the first training? What about the players you will work with?
I think our first contact was positive. The collective joined the work with a great desire. There will be much work because these guys work with desire. Sometimes we will train twice a day, at times we will do it only once. These are working moments.
Can we say your stress is on physical training? Today'strainingwasverytough.
I suppose the intensity of the training is defined by not only physical aspect. The players just start to work after a pause. They will start working gradually. We chose such a gradual introduction of the players to the work. But our method always presupposes a work with the ball.
Serdar Azmun trained today. Other players on loan are expected to come back. Do you count on them?
At present we are working with those players who are at our disposal. At his moment I count on them.
What changes does the team need? What are you going to change in the game?
I will tell about these moments to the players. I think they are the main characters. But I always have the greatest respect for my colleagues in the coaching staff. This is why I'll never say nothing bad about my predecessors.
Javier Gracia: 'All purchases are discussed with the coach'
Rubin has already signed a contract with a new player. When will we see other new players?
We are working on it. I won't tell you the accurate terms, but I will say once again the work is in the process. First of all, we estimate the players we already have. We don't assess those who have not joined us yet. We will talk about them when they come.
Was Moritz Bauer purchased on your initiative?
I don't know how it works in Russia. But here all purchases are discussed with the head coach.
What functions does Dmitry Kuznetsov have in your staff?
He is a member of the coaching staff. I'm glad to have a specialist who have played in Spain, has great experience, speaks Spanish and makes our work easier.
Kuzmin, Dyadyun and Bilyaletdinov were absent in the training. Why?
As for Kuzmin, he is recovering from the injury he got in the last season. I think he will need an operation, and I'm looking forward to his recovery. Speaking about the players you have mentioned, they are at my disposal.
Having watched many matches, what impressions do you have of Russian football?
I did not have any ready image of Russian football. I have met with it today for the first time. I can say I have the greatest respect for Russian football and for the country that invited me to work.
The only thing we need to note is that eight players of Rubin did not participate in the first training of team. Forward Vladimir Dyadyun, midfielder Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, defenders Guillermo Contugno, Oleg Kuzmin, Andrey Pilyavsky and novice Moritz Bauer were absent. Javier Gracia clearly commented the reasons of their absence. And we managed to know that the Swiss novice of Rubin (Bauer) went to Switzerland to organise his move to Kazan.
Rubin will train in the capital of Tatarstan from 21 to 28 June. Then the team will go to the first camping abroad to Austria (29 June – 10 July) where it is planned to play three matches.